Going green isn`t just about saving the planet or hopping on the latest bandwagon, it`s about the bottom line -- save the environment and save money.
Everywhere you look, someone is touting their recycling programme, their CO2 emission reductions or how they`ve done away with paper invoices or newsletters.
These savvy companies are not only reaching their customers at an emotional level, but they are increasing their bottom line. This is according to Galdon Data director Fairoz Jaffer.
Organisation must adopt a more environmentally friendly stance; it`s simply a matter of doing it now and boasting early adopter success, or getting on board late in the game and potentially disappointing socially responsible customers.
This doesn`t mean going green overnight and waking up hugging a tree, but responsible organisations will be expected to demonstrate corporate and social responsibility, and revenues will suffer if they don`t. In these competitive times, your ability to manage resources efficiently will prove a differentiator, as customers with their own green agenda flex their environmental muscle with their wallets.
One copier, two printers and a fax machine consume approximately 1 400 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy each year while one multifunctional product (MFP) that performs all the same functions, uses only 700kWh annually. Imagine what a fax server will save.
"A company with 1 000 employees will produce 30 million pages of paper a year which equates to cutting down 1 369 trees and producing approximately 300 000 pounds of CO2 every year. Larger companies can use an estimated 400 billion pages of printer paper a year; that`s 18 253 333 trees converted to paper generating four billion pounds of carbon every year for a single company on a single item - paper," says Jaffer.
He says a greener workplace can mean a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive place to work and good news for the bottom line. "Whether you`re the boss or the employee, whether your office is green already or still waiting to see the light, some practical steps can lay the groundwork for a healthy, low-impact workspace.
"If an enterprise with 300 employees sends and receives an average of two pages per day, they can save R150 000 or more per year. The more you digitise your paper and keep it online or in the control of your computer systems, the more money you save. The more secure your information is, the more compliant you become," he explains.
Open Text (Captaris) solutions reduce environmental impact across all aspects of an organisation, and its partner Hewlett-Packard (HP) makes it easy to recycle unwanted computer hardware and printing supplies responsibly. The burgeoning problem of e-waste, generated by discarded high-tech equipment, is a source of growing concern among corporate enterprises, governments, environmental groups and IT industry thought-leaders. Since companies will be trading in their fax machines, copiers and printers for a streamlined information management solution, please consider disposing of your unwanted hardware responsibly by taking advantage of the HP product return and recycle programme.
Open Text (Captaris) is a global provider of software products that automate document-centric processes. Its products include leading document and data capture solutions that let customers convert paper documents to digital content, and manage associated processes. It offers business information and delivery solutions built on the Microsoft .NET framework which integrates, processes and automates the flow of content.
Jaffer says that by using a RightFax fax server and also an archiving and search platform like GFX, companies can securely and efficiently deliver business information from virtually any application via fax, e-mail, print devices or over the Internet. "Galdon Data delivers the most reliable fax software solutions to integrate and automate the flow of a full range of fax, paper and electronic documents and data, allowing enterprises to achieve significant cost reductions."
With cost reductions, RightFax significantly reduces the time it takes employees to exchange documents with customers or suppliers, resulting in faster sales cycles, quicker customer service and improved efficiency. The document security offers a trusted and reliable fax server and electronic document delivery solutions that will help companies comply with regulations and safeguard information security and privacy.
Furthermore, Galdon Data`s extensive Microsoft development and integration skills have enabled Galdon to develop solutions for RightFax that add business benefits. Products include GFX (archive and billing for RightFax), GFX Plus (free text OCR that facilitates ECM), and Decade (document creation and delivery engine).
Its long experience, certifications and national presence in the RightFax space has allowed Galdon Data to deliver successful projects across the country. Galdon Data has extensive experience in integrating RightFax into the business process and line of business applications. These projects include SAP, Oracle, Microsoft SQL, Microsoft Exchange 2003 and 2007, Microsoft SharePoint and Multi Function Products (scan/print/copy and fax stations).
"Customers need to understand the value of working with an experienced partner like Galdon Data; we emphasise the use of RightFax as it enables users to improve productivity and reduce the time, cost and complexity of exchanging important business documents," he explains.
The RightFax Microsoft Exchange Module gives users one centralised place to send, receive and manage fax and e-mails, through their Outlook e-mail inbox, with seamless integration. The module installs at the server, so there is no need to install additional software on each desktop and no need for additional user training.
"In addition, the RightFax Microsoft Exchange Module links the Exchange mail server and Active Directory with RightFax desktop faxing and database synchronisation features, creating a fully unified fax and e-mail solution. One can further extend this unified messaging platform via Office Communication Server, allowing for voice integration as well," he concludes.
All of the information that enters your organisation has the potential to initiate a business process. Integrate business processes with automated technology that allows import of critical information. Compliance requirements step up the importance of integration and automation. To address this, prioritisations, escalations and service level agreements can be built into the appropriate business processes, and the process becomes auditable.
For more information on RightFax, Microsoft collaboration technologies, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Microsoft Unified Communication (Office Communications Server 2007) and RightFax Integration, contact Galdon Data on (011) 805 4420 or e-mail sales@galdon.co.za.
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